Discipline Process and Judgements

Red cards which are issued in matches will be reported to the Disciplinary Committee and judgements from Disciplinary Panel Hearings will be posted here.

There are several important requirements in the RFU regulations, principally Regulation 19, the purpose of which are to optimise the discipline process and ensure that players are not prevented from returning to play by the process when otherwise their sanction for an offence would allow them to play again.

Timely reporting of red cards by clubs, schools and officials reduces the risk that the process is not concluded until after what would be the return to play date, which would result in a player’s suspension being extended unnecessarily.

Please ensure that your club/school has appropriate processes in place to ensure you report all red cards in a timely manner.

Reporting of Red Cards

Referees

Please notify the NLD Disciplinary Secretary by emailing the completed Red Card Report Form or Match Official Abuse Form to the Disciplinary Secretary as soon as possible, and no more than 48 hours after any sending off or referee abuse occurring.

Clubs

Under regulation 19.4.3 a club MUST report each red card issued to one of their players to the CB Disciplinary Secretary Andy Statham ([email protected] ).

For Age Grade games Reg 19 Appendix 6 clause 7.2 requires reporting of red cards to the CB Age Grade Disciplinary Secretary (CBAGDS) Chris Johnson ([email protected] )

The report must be received by no later than 9am on the second day following the match for adult games, or within 48 hours of the match for Age Grade games, and must include:

• • The player’s name
  • The player’s Date of Birth
  • The player’s RFU ID
  • The name of the referee

This is in addition to the requirement for the referee to report the red card.  Clubs and schools must also do so.

Adult Return to Play

An adult player who has received a red card cannot play again until the disciplinary process is complete and a CB or RFU hearing has determined the extent of any sanction, including suspension from playing. The Judgment published by the CB or RFU discipline panel will include an agreed return to play date.

Age Grade Return to Play

Under Regulation 19 Appendix 6 clauses 7.3 and 7.4 for Age Grade Players, where the club / school carries out the disciplinary process internally or with the support of the CB, the club/school must report their findings to the CBAGDS within 48 hours of the hearing. The player cannot return to play until the club have provided their completed judgment form to the CBAGDS (Chris Johnson) and have received approval from the CBAGDS of the sanction imposed, even where the imposed sanction would otherwise permit an immediate return to play.

The following administrative fees shall apply:

• Disciplinary hearings (in person and papers) £50
• Citings £125
• Appeals £125

2024-25 judgements are published here:

250210 – Adam Hart – Amber Valley RFC

250210 – Will Dale – Scunthorpe RFC

250210 – Jonny Cantellow – Ashbourne RFC

250210 – Christopher Everton – Market Rasen RFC

250209 – Matt Upton – Ashfield RFC

250209 – Cameron Lonsdale – Ilkeston RFC

250205 – Joseph Dawn – Mellish RFC

250204 – Citing of Adam Loveday – Sleaford RFC 

250118 – Roman Priestly-Nangle – Southwell RFC

250108 – Callum William – Cleethorpes RFC

250109 – Oliver Davidson – Long Eaton RFC

250108 – Ryan Stopforth – North Hykeham RFC

250106 – William Cole – Notts Moderns RFC

241231 – Jason McGuiness – Derby RFC

241231 – Toby Green – Market Rasen RFC

241228 – Marcello Santino – Skegness RFC

241228 – Chris Pond – Dronfield RFC

241223 – Sam Thornburn – Bourne RFC

241223 – Joe Doughty – Ilkeston RFC

20241210 – Dylan Bevan – Nottm. Trent University RFC

20241205 – Lincoln University RFC

20241205 – Aiden Fretwell – Mellish RFC

20241201 – Dan Carson – Market Rasen RFC

20241129 – Alex Robertson – Lincoln RFC

20241126 – Lachlan Summers -Spalding RFC

20241126 – Josh Warley – Melbourne RFC

20251125 – Kane Linklater – Scunthorpe RFC

20241124 – Dan McDougall – Market Rasen RFC

20241122 – Barry Harding – Notts Casuals RFC

20241122 – Will Taylor – Paviors RFC

20241120 – Kieran Lang – Ilkeston RFC

20241118 – Sean Denning – Newark RFC

20241114 – Jacob Hodder – Grimsby RFC

20241113 – Keyworth Coach

20241113 – Meden Vale RFC

20241113 – Brad Rhodes – Meden Vale RFC

20241111 – Gui Abreu – Scunthorpe RFC

20241109 – Name Redacted – Mansfield RFC

20241109 – Drew Meyer – Belper RFC

20241107 – Charles Hart – Ashbourne RFC

20241106 – Finn Bennett – Newark RFC

20241024 – Willis Ingelby – Spalding RFC

20241018 – Kevin Bayliff – Sleaford RFC

20241018 – Marchell Moos – Sleaford RFC

20241004 – Alex Berry – Ollerton RFC

20241002 – Lewis Haigh – Skegness RFC

20240927 – Daniel Staines – Leesbrook RFC

20240927 – Alistair McNab – Long Eaton RFC

20240926 – Tom Dixon – Bourne RFC

20240926 – Brad Rhodes – Meden Vale RFC

20240926 – James Hather – Derby RFC

20240922 – Ryan Carr – Bingham RFC

20240922 – Nathan Hind – Mansfield RFC 

20240920 – Tom Dilworth – Ollerton RFC

20240920 – Andrius Kalzauskas – Mellish RFC

20240828 – Dan Piggins – Boston RFC

• The NLD CB Disciplinary Committee has powers, devolved from the RFU, to deal with matters at level 5 and below, which result from sendings off, citings, reports of abuse of match officials and reports of actions which are not in the best interests of the game and which bring the game into disrepute.
• The Chair of Discipline has the authority to lead the Discipline Committee on all matters relating to discipline within the CB and reports to the NLD board and the RFU Head of Discipline.
• All members of the NLD Discipline committee are appointed by the NLD board and must have and maintain current RFU Discipline accreditation. A member serves on the committee for fixed terms of 4 years. There is no restriction on the number of terms served.
• NLD Discipline panels are selected from accredited members of the Discipline Committee by the Chair of Discipline with advice from the CB Discipline Secretary.
• A player sent off is not permitted to play again until their case has been heard by a NLD CB Disciplinary panel. The hearing can be either in person or on papers in appropriate cases (for example, such as two yellow cards).
• Hearings will be held as soon as is practicable after the matter arising, normally by the Thursday following the incident. The venue will be notified at the time the hearing date and time is confirmed.
• Referees must ensure that the sending off report is delivered by email to the NLD Discipline Secretary within 48 hours of the match finishing. It will then be delivered to the club.
• Clubs must ensure that they hold a club discipline hearing and provide the decision to the NLD Discipline Secretary prior to the CB hearing.
• Clubs are responsible for paying any and all costs charged against any person who appears in front of a panel arising from an incident in which that person represented the club in any capacity, such fees to be determined by the CB. Costs will be invoiced by NLD RFU and must be paid within 14 days of invoice.
• Players and clubs have the right to appeal decisions of an NLD panel by following the procedure set out in the current RFU rules and regulations.